Funding secured for new Wellesbourne surgery
A new era for healthcare is set to dawn in Wellesbourne after funding for a new state-of-the-art medical centre in the village was finally secured.
The planned new facility on Dog Close, will replace the existing Hastings House surgery.
Last year the proposed new facility was plunged into uncertainty after the South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (SWCCG) put a stop on its funding commitments while it carried out a strategic review of its assets.
Wellesbourne residents reacted angrily to the news feeling that as the village had accepted a large number of new houses, the new £4million medical centre was essential to cope with increased demand.
More than 3,000 local residents signed a petition calling for the new surgery with the parish council also encouraging people to write to the SWCCG and the local MP.
That stop was lifted in February and Hastings House was asked to prepare a business case for a new surgery explaining the reasons why a building of that size was needed.
Last week the SWCCG approved that plan and confirmed that they would provide funding, along with a local housing developer and the Hastings House surgery, for the new medical centre.
The SWCCG will fund the annual rent of the building.
The news means that progress on the project can now be made and building work is anticipated to begin this winter.
Once completed it will house 11 consulting rooms, a minor operations suite and will have the capacity to expand for a growing population in the future.
Dr Read-Jones from the Hastings House surgery said: “This is fantastic news. We look forward to meeting the growing health care needs for our patients in a wonderful new building designed for 21st Century healthcare.
“We can now secure the built capacity to deliver person centred primary care to provide the right care in the right place. This new building should enable us to improve the service for all our patients and deliver new, innovative services for this community. I would particularly like to thank Anna Hargrave at South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Walton Estate for their hard work in turning this project into reality.”
